This year’s bike rally is kicking off this weekend starting tomorrow May 13 to May 22. Since 2006 attendance has been in sharp decline, due to the economy but also because of the measures and ordinances, from unfriendly to repressive, taken against attendees by the city of Myrtle Beach.
Since 2008, city officials tried to justify their actions by what they felt was the necessity to tone down all bike rallies in their city for less noise and traffic. Myrtle Beach’s helmet requirement was part of the package to dissuade bikers to travel inside the city limits. It created an outcry with a massive number of bikers deciding to boycott the rally with for consequence a huge loss of income for the city and surrounding areas. Eventually, in 2010 just after the Spring Rally ended, this controversial helmet law was overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Will the 2011 Myrtle Beach Rally be as tame as the last 2/3 years was, or will we see an uptick due to a slightly better economy and to the repeal of Myrtle Beach helmet’s law? Of course, those who are the first to claim the quasi-certitude of a revival of the Spring Rally are those who have a financial interest to say so, local merchants and those renting space to vendors. It is estimated that during its peak years the rally attracted around 275,000 people. For this year, I hear that hotel reservations are about the same than last year, but many bikers don’t reserve any room knowing very well the high level of vacancy when they will arrive in town. Will some bikers forget the city of Myrtle Beach actions and come back? Probably a few. But I know many bikers and vendors of the industry who state that they will never come back because even without restrictive ordinances, they still consider the area as extremely unfriendly to bikers. So 2011 will probably not be a turning point, just see a stabilization of the number of attendees at about the level of last year, the worst ever. The rally has a serious image problem, and it takes many more years of postive marketing and public relation efforts to establish a good image than it takes to destroy one.
Used to thoroughly enjoy going to both the Myrtle Beach Rallies…But to answer the subject matter…No, but Hell No!
I have plenty of business associates/friends in Myrtle Beach and have encouraged my business associates there to open another at a venue that wants us.
However, I/We go where we are wanted and appreciated….And believe me there are plenty of events here in the SE where we are wanted. Therefore Myrtle Beach can stuff it where the sun does not shine.
Boss Hawg
F*CK ‘EM!! Wiz
@ Wiz…well put, I only expanded out of love and respect for some friends in business there….lol
Boss Hawg
Screw it, Lets Ride!! I’ll be there but won’t be going into the City of MB.
Never again for me. Not only the city but the feeling of not welcome on a bike anytime of the year!
If I’m not welcome on my motorcycle, then I’m not welcome period. Myrtle Beach is not in my future, ever!
I will never return, not for a rally or any other purpose. Myrtle Beach can rot as far as I am concerned.
myrtle beach does not even exist as far as I am concerened. I will never spend 1 penny any where in that douche bag town ever again
The short-sighted and selfish politicians of MB have made their bed, now it’s time to lie in it.
I’m not going but it’s a shame because the real losers are the vendors, stores and city employees earning overtime to clean up and secure the facilities. I guess MB makes enough money off of family tourism.
Hopefully the city will still enjoy the “sport bike week” they all looked so forward to, but not a dime from anyone I know. Be careful what you ask for, it might bite back!
Myrtle WHO?????
Over & Out,
Jeff
Was all set for my first trip to Myrtle Beach when they enacted those ordinances. Now, it has been permanently marked off the list. PLENTY of other rallies and cities who welcome bikers and that’s where I’ll be.
It is our duty to give them exactly what they wanted.. No bikers… We have got to send a message to every rally city that if they pull this kind of BS that they are going to pay in the check book. As soon as any other city sees they can get away with this crap they will follow suit. Don’t forget that in almost every case the people hold the power, use it
well said, Rebel. Hope the turnout for the “other” bike week exceeds any previous years 😉
MC has sucked large for a long time, it was fun in the early ’90’s has has become progressivly worse since than. If you go take bail $$
Meant MB- lo sciento
Hey Myrtle Beach,
How’s that golf thing working out for you. Those dimpled balls makin’ your putter stand on end? Gettin’ rid of the motorcycle rallies take a divot out of your budget? Y’all can dance the shag to the beach music and pound sand from the traps you tried to set for the motorcyclists.
SUCK-BANG-BLOW..THAT SAYS IT ALL….BIKER FRED.
About the time I was considering hitting MB to see what the buzz was, they pulled those stunts. I’ve since decided it will be a bloody long time before I consider going there. The politicans really should have considered how much $$ they’d loose, and how much potential $$ they frittered away by disuading people that were considering attending.
There is plenty to do outside the city limits, and plenty of good vendors. Most of the activity has been moving away for years anyway. If you’re near the area it is well worth the trip. Just stay away from the city and spend your money elsewhere. The city is still dominated by bluehairs much like Daytona Beach was back in the 70’s. They will die off eventually just like they did in Daytona. Patience.
PS. No, I don’t live there.
I got the money back for the ticket I got ,but the attitude of the officer was the worst,I wouldn’t think of going there again nobody needs that kind of abuse……..
Actually the number of hotel reservations where a whole lot higher from the previous 2 years.
Today May 15th, the sources from Myrtle Beach are saying the Rally is Back and it’s packed.
They have returned!!!
The whole Myrtle Beach Helmet fiasco is over, and both Rallies are back!!
Wait until Memorial Day, we’re expecting record numbers in 2011!!
I used to know an old woman named Myrtle. She didn’t like bikes either.
Later..
It’s getting busy this week….lots of vendors back this year and the crowd in getting bigger with each day….the south is where everything is happening and it will probably always be that way…..locals stay out of the “city” limits….it’s still a great place to have a rally……I live here and know where to go and where to not to go. MB gets nothing from most locals but the party goes on…………………
I have not read a retraction from the mayor and city council of Myrtle Beach recanting their venomous and slanderous attack on all bikers in general. I have no information to lead me to believe that they are remorseful about singling out one segment of society for unfair and constitutionally illegal laws. I have not heard the mayor retract his anti-biker battlecry, ” We don’t want them ( bikers ) and we are gonna get rid of them”. A friend of mine visited the Myrtle Beach area and commented , somewhat sadly on the stores which have closed and the ones with signs out front begging for customer traffic . I have always agreed that any community has the right to do what they did , but they must accept the consequences of their decision. I know of many biker friendly businesses in the city and I fell sorry for them , but in hindsight they were the only people who could have stopped this action. As far as I know , Myrtle Beach’s opinion has not changed , they don’t want us ,so why would bikers have any desire to support those who reject us. They just want retirement millionaires in Myrtle Beach , lots of luck with that plan given the current and future finaNcial outlook. My billfold goes where I go and I go where bikers are not descriminated against and where I , A BIKER AM WELCOME. So all I have to say to Myrtle Beach is , when donkeys fly , actually not even then.
Let them starve, We all know the reason for these laws. Hooligans.
Got to sort them out .Its not impossible to have a good time and not hurt anyone.
Boys in blue are dic”T”orial and will abuse their powers.
. Let them get a real job.
Myrtle’s not in my future.
This years Spring and Fall rally were down a little, because people choose to stay out of the city limits, but next year we are expect a return back to normal numbers. We are calling for all Biker to come back to Myrtle Beach, and to spread the word that the rally will continue.
The helmet law and other things have given Myrtle Beach an bad image, but know that all of Myrtle Beach wasn’t to blame for those new ordinance. Many residents and business support and welcome bikers year round “Memorial Day Included”.